Roundabout



Feb. 7, 1933.

D. J LAHAY ROUNDABOUT Filed Jan. 2, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. v7, 1933. D. J. LAHAY 1,896,796

ROUNDABOUT I Filed Jan. 2, 1930 sheets-sheet 2 30 about in the Patented Feb. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DELL .I. Lenny, or GARNEY,,MIGI-IGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY manor AND IvI-EsNE AssIe MENTS, ro UNIV ERSAL PLAYGROUND EQUIrMENT coMrANY, or MENOMINEE,

MICHIGAN, A coRPoRAr'IoN'or MIoII'IGAN ItoUNnABoU'r 1 Application filed January 2, 1930. iSerial No. 418,057.

This invention relates to improvements in roundabouts and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The primary object .of the invention is to improve the actuating or propelling mecha-' nism in devices of this kind, and which eliminates the use ofcrank, clutch and spring elements associated with the mast or center pole, which elements soon become inoperative due of substantial length may be had for such levers, which bearings are disposed 'upon' rigid upright posts secured to adjacent struc-' tural parts, in a manner securely holding them in the desired position.

These objects of the invention as well as others, together with the many advantages thereof, will more fully appear as I proceed with my specification. I

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a round about embodying the preferred form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the round-. plane of one of the radial arms thereof.

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical. sectional View through a portion of the roundabout as taken on the line 33 of Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the central portion of theroundabout and through parts directly associated with the.

mast or center post thereof. V

Fig. 5 is a horizontal detail sectional view through the post of the roundabout astaken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale as taken on the hue 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showlng a modified form of theinvention.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1

to 6 inclusive of the drawings, 1 indicates as r a whole, the base of the roundabout adapted.

cuate distances apart.

to rigidly support an upright mast or center pole 2. The base includes a collar 3. (see. Fig.- 4) whichcomprises a hub 4 and a down-1 wardly and outwardly inclined flange =5. Fixedto said flange 5'and extending downwardly and outwardly therefrom is a plurality of radially disposed'llegs66 prefere ably four in number and disposed equal ar- The outer ends 'of said legs which are. madev of anglebar stock are 'bevelledofl" to engage flatwise upon the ground or other suitable support. If desired, suitable flat feet (not shown) may be provided on said outerends of said legs. The adjacent le'gs6. are connected together at a point between their [ends by brace bars 7, while the diametrically opposite legs are I insures stability. 1

Preferably the mast or center pole, 2 is also connected together bybrace bars 8..

made from a length of steel tubing and its bottom end is securely anchored against movement in the hub or collar 4 of the spider 3 as by the cross .pin 9. Associated with and -,directly above the collar 3 is a second collar' 10 which includes a hub 11 and a horizontally disposedradial flange 12. The hub 11 of the collar 10 and the hub 4 of the collar 3 are.

formed to provide coacting raceways for antifriction bearings 13 whereby the collar '10 has a thrust as well as a radial bearing on the collar 3. V

Fixed to the flange 12 of the collar 10 ar e.

the inner ends of a pluralityof horizontally disposed, radially extending arms 14 preferably made of angle bar. Preferablythere are eight of such arms employed and-said arms are spaced equal arcuate distances apart.

On the top end of the mast 2 is secured a end. Associated with this block is a cap 17 bearing block 15 having a recess 16 in its top includingfa centrally disposedboss 18 and a and an .antifriction thrust bearing means 20' is interposed between them. The cap 17 is 9 downwardly and outwardly extendingflange' 5 '19. The boss 18 extends into the recess '16.

closed in any suitable manner whereby the bearing means 20 may be kept lubricated.

21 indicates a plurality of braces, one associated with each arm 14 and arranged to connect the outer end of each arm 14 with the cap 17 Each brace which is fixed at its top end to the underside of the cap flange 19,

extends downwardly and outwardly therefrom to terminate in a horizontally disposed extension 22 engaged with and fixed to the" outer end portion of an associated arm 14 as best shown in Fig. 3. As best shown in Fig. 6, the vertical flanges of the angle bars constituting j the outer end portion of the arm 14 and the horizontal extension 22 of each brace 21 are engaged back to back and aresecuredtogether in this relation'as for example by the rivets23. If desired, these parts may be spot welded together. The

outer end portion of said extensions and arms 1 respectively have secured thereto,-the end portions of straight, wooden seat'boards 24- 24 so that the roundabout takes on a substantially octagonal shape as is apparent.

Should it be desired,saidseatboards may be made segmental ,so that said boards would then provide a circular seat for the roundabout. The ends of adjacent seat boards en gage upon and are securedto the horizontal flanges of the brace extension 22 and outer I end of each arm 14 as by the bolts 25.

: substantially the angle of thebraces 21.

v These levers 33 areconnectedup to the mast boards is an upright post 29.

Rising from each alternate arm 14 a short distance inwardly from the associated seat The bottom end of said post is fixed directly to the arm 14 while near its top end, said post engages with and. is secured to the associated brace 21 as best-shown in Fig. 3. This post includestop and bottom bearing ears 30 and 31 respectively on that side adjacent the seat boards and in said ears is 'journalled the upright shaft, or stem 32 of the actuating or propelling lever 33 to beagain referred to. Each stem includes a head 34 having a thrust bearing on the ear 30 and said head is formedto provide arms 35 arranged at that'angle which correspondsto the angle between adjacent seat boards. Fixed to said arms are the levers 33, so disposed as to bring one arm intova position convenient for actuation by the occupant of each seat. Thus asit is apparent occupants of adjacent seat boards may team up with respect to the same lever.

whereby rocking movement of saidlevers causes a'rotation of the seat boards about the I post in either direction as will soon appear.

Fixed to the mast or center pole 2 in substantially the plane of the arms 35, is an eccentric disc or cam 36 having inner and. outer upright annular flanges 36 and 36 dey fining an annular groove 37 between them,

"adapted to hold a lubricant. Associated, with said disc and operatively engaged upon the flanges thereof is a' one-piece circular strap 38, which carries clips 38 to engage the bottom surface of the eccentric to prevent displacement between said eccentric and strap. This strap covers the groove 37'and is provided with ears 39, one for each lever 33. V In thestrap 38 is provided a valve device 40 whereby lubricant may be introduced into the groove 37 when necessary.

Links 41 operatively connect each ear with an associated lever 33. In this respect it is pointed out that the inner end of each link is connected at its inner end to'an associated ear 39 and the outer end of each link is pivotally connected to one of the arms 35' on the head 34 of a shaft 32. I find itdesirable to connect two intermedite and opposite links to those arms 35,'-each on one end the same side of the associated pin 32 and to connect the two alternate and opposite links to thosearms 35, each on the other andsa'me' side of the associated shaft 32 asbest shown in ,Fig'. 1. The inner end of one of said links is connected by a bar 42 with an ear 43 on the strap which in effect prevents ja'ck knifing' or undue folding of the links.

In operation, the children sit one upon g each seat board facing toward-the center of the roundabout and thus each child is in a posltion to grasp one of the lever arms-33. As one'child pushes on one lever end, his or her companion pulls on the other one, it be-f ingapparent that the other children; are

doing likewise. Thus as each ear 39 of the strap comes into a position wherein its asso ciated link is tangential or offset with respect to the mast or center. pole, and said link is moved endwisein one direction or the other,

the seat boards as an entirety'are caused to revolve or rotate about the mast. Thepower V is applied progressively as each seat board comes into a predetermined position with re spect to the post so that each seat occupant must contribute equally with the others in maintaining the seat boards in rotation.

Instead of so arranging the seat boards that the children face the center pole' I may 1 provide a construction wherein two children may sit facing each other. Under such c onditions, the supporting arms 14 are arranged in pairs as are the braces 21 therefor. 0n

the outer ends of the arms 14 I provide a double arrangement of seats 43"? each of which includes a back rest 44, there being a common platform or foot board 46 for the lever arm in alternation, the structure described is caused to revolve or the mast.

The construction descr1bed,'1s free from rotate about all clutch teeth or springs, which soon wear and get out of order. It provides a whole-' some and healthy enjoyment for the children using the same and gives that exercise which materially benefits them in many ways.

While in describing the invention I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the various parts thereof, the same is to be considered merely as illustrative so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims. a V

I claim as my invention 1. A roundabout embodying therein, a base, a mast thereon, a frame structure ina strap rotata an eccentricfixed to the mast and having a pair ofupright, radially spaced flanges on one surface to provide an annular groove therebetween, a strap rotatably'engaged on said flanges and covering said groove and having means whereby a lubricant may be introduced into said groove and means carried by the strap and adapted to engage the other surface of the eccentric to prevent axial displacement between said eccentric and strap. I

5. A roundabout embodying therein, a base, a mast thereongan eccentric fixed to saidmast,

a plurality of radial arms and associated braces rotatively mounted with res ct to themast, an upright post fixed to oneo said arms and associated braces, a rocking lever,-coacting means on said post and lever providing the pivotal axis for the lever," a link connected to said lever and extending inwardly towardthe mast and operatively connected to said strap 1y mounted on said eccentric,

and a bar operatively connecting said strap-v and link whereby operating movement of the lever causes rotative movement of said arms and braces about said mast.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 24th day of December, 1929.

. DELL J. LAHAY.

. eluding seat members rotatively mounted with respect to the mast, an eccentric fixed to the mast, a strap rotatable on said'eccentrio, lever members arranged in operative relation to the seat members and means operatively connecting each lever member with said strap one of said means comprising a link operatively engaged at its ends with said lever and strap respectively and abar connecting said strap with said link adjacent that end engaged with said strap.

2. A roundabout embodying therein, a base, a mast thereon, coacting radial arms and braces rotatively mounted with respect to said mast, a seat member carried by said arms, an eccentric fixed to the mast, a strap rotatable on said eccentric, a rocking lever including a shaft arranged in operativerelation with respect to the seat member, means supported at least in viding a bearing for the shaft and means operatively connecting the lever with said strap and comprising a link operatively engaged at its ends with said lever and strap respectively and a bar connecting said strap with said link adjacent that end with said strap.

3. In a device of the kind described, a mast, an eccentric fixed to said mastand having a part formed to provide an annular lubricant groove therein, a strap rotatable on said eccentric and covering said groove and means part by said arms pro I for preventing axial displacement between said strap and eccentric.

4. In a device of the kind described, a mast, I

CERTIFICATE OF GQRRECTEON.

Patent No. 1,896,796. February 7, 1933.

nELJ J. LAHAY.

lt isherehy certified that error amaears in the printed specification of the almve numbered patent requiring correction as fniinws: Page 3, line 56, claim '2, -bfif0i6 "with second occurrence insert the w0ral"engaged", anti line 67, claim 4, ,hef0re "flanges" insert the word "annular"; and that: the said Letters Patent simuld be X's-ad with these COIE'BCHQHS therein that tha same may cnnfcrm to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of April, A. E). .2933.

M. J. Moore. (Seal) Acting Commissioner 0f Patents. 

